Samsung's top tablet, the Galaxy Tab S7+ is large, bright and powerful, but the reigning champion is Apple with its iPad Pro. Comparisons are often made on the lowest cost configuration, but what happens when both tablets are set to maximum potential regardless of cost? This type of comparison may be all the more interesting to anyone that tends to use a tablet professionally.
The fourth-generation iPad Pro 12.9-inch launched in March of 2020 with some surprising upgrades over the 2018 model. The new iPad Pro was the first Apple device to include a LiDAR scanner and the first iPad to have more than one rear camera, adding a 10-megapixel ultra-wide to the 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, even though the iPad would be a bit unwieldy to use as a mobile camera. The processor update from the A12X to A12Z yielded few changes beyond a minimal graphics improvement. Even with most components having the same specifications as the 2018 model, it was still the best tablet at the time.
Five months later, Samsung answered with its Galaxy Tab S7+, a 12.4-inch tablet that includes the iconic S Pen, now with magnetic attachment. The display features Samsung’s fantastic OLED with a 120Hz refresh rate and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865+ processor, which is one generation behind the latest Snapdragon 888, but still a very fast chip. Storage and memory options range from 128/256GB with 6GB of memory to 512GB with 8GB of RAM. The Galaxy Tab S7+ has the option for Wi-Fi-only or Wi-Fi plus 5G. With a glass and aluminum build, this is a durable and sturdy tablet, despite the light one and one-quarter pound weight. Apple's 12.9 iPad Pro is a good match for most of these specifications, although it's not available as a 5G option. Instead, Apple only offers Wi-Fi-only or Wi-Fi plus LTE.
Galaxy Tab S7+ Vs iPad Pro 12.9: Maxed Out
Comparing maxed-out configurations of the best tablets from Samsung and Apple results in some very powerful, but expensive tablets. At the moment Samsung doesn’t have the top configuration available and it doesn’t seem to be in stock anywhere else either, so it's a choice between 5G cellular and 128-GB of storage for $1,050 or Wi-Fi-only and 512GB on sale at $880 (regularly $1,030). Comparing on an equal basis, the 12.9 iPad Pro is $1,149 with LTE and 128GB or $1,299 for the Wi-Fi-only version with 512GB. This makes it clear that Apple’s tablet is more expensive, which is a consideration. For those that just want the best tablet possible, the maxed-out 12.9 iPad Pro is available, doubling the storage to 1TB, including Wi-Fi, or with LTE for $1,649. The bargain pricing is nice, but is there enough value with the Samsung tablet?
Most agree that Apple still leads the industry with its various iPad models and the top-of-the-line 12.9 iPad Pro is its very best. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7+ offers great value, particularly with the sale pricing that knocks $150 off the cost. Samsung also has the better display technology, but most tablet use is indoors, so the higher contrast ratio and greater brightness afforded by its OLED is not as important as it is with a smartphone. Apple’s processor is much faster and since these are professional-level tablets, the user may be pushing the limits of what is possible. The Galaxy Tab S7+ includes an S Pen at no extra cost, while the Apple Pencil 2 is sold separately.
Each tablet is worth the cost, so it really comes down to the ecosystem and personal preference. Does iPadOS have the apps needed or is Samsung’s app store more familiar and appealing? Both are great tablets, but Apple device owners will usually be more satisfied with an iPad Pro, while Android users will find their way around the Galaxy Tab S7+ easier.